Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes a communication portion arranged inside a cover covering an image forming portion in the main body of the apparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing near field communication. The cover includes a stacking portion in its upper section. The stacking portion is configured to receive a recording medium with an image thereon, the recording medium being discharged outside the main body of the apparatus. The antenna surface faces a region of the upper section of the cover downstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface at least partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another communication portion using near field communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as alaser beam printer or a copier, for forming an image on a recordingmedium.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is an image forming apparatus capable of receiving image data tobe printed from an information device, such as a personal computer or acellular phone, using wireless communication and of forming an imagebased on the image data. Such an image forming apparatus includes acommunication portion for establishing wireless communication.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-53477 describes arrangement of areception portion (communication portion) for wireless communication inthe main body of an image forming apparatus.

However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-53477 does not disclose anappropriate location and orientation of the communication portion in thecase where the communication portion is used in, so-called near fieldcommunication (NFC), which is a communication with a relatively shortdistance over which data is capable of being wirelessly communicated andwhere it is possible for the first time to establish communication by auser passing an information device that is to communicate with the imageforming apparatus over a location that faces the communication portionof the image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides appropriately arranging a communicationportion for use in establishing near field communication in an imageforming apparatus while at the same time achieving satisfactorycommunication performance and usability.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can provide image formingapparatuses described below.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an image formingapparatus including an image forming portion, a cover, and acommunication portion. The cover covers the image forming portion andincludes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the coverand configured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recordingmedium having an image formed by the image forming portion and beingdischarged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus. Thecommunication portion is arranged inside the cover in the main body ofthe image forming apparatus and includes an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication. The antenna surface faces aregion of the upper section of the cover, the region being downstream ina direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface atleast partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover, theregion being outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicularto the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communicationportion is used for communicating with another communication portionusing near field communication.

Embodiments discussed herein can provide an image forming apparatusincluding an image forming portion, a cover, a communication portion,and an operating portion. The cover covers the image forming portion andincludes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the coverand configured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recordingmedium having an image formed by the image forming portion and beingdischarged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus. Thecommunication portion is arranged inside the cover in the main body ofthe image forming apparatus and includes an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication. The operating portion is usedin manipulating operations of the image forming portion. The antennasurface faces the upper section of the cover in a position opposite theoperating portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction ofdischarging the recording medium such that the stacking portion isdisposed therebetween. The communication portion is used forcommunicating with another communication portion using near fieldcommunication.

The present disclosure can provide an image forming apparatus includingan image forming portion, a cover, a communication portion, and adisplay portion. The cover covers the image forming portion and includesa stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the cover andconfigured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recording mediumhaving an image formed by the image forming portion and being dischargedoutside a main body of the image forming apparatus. The communicationportion is arranged inside the cover in the main body of the imageforming apparatus and includes an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication. The display portion isconfigured to display information relating to the image formation. Theantenna surface faces the upper section of the cover in a positionopposite the display portion in a direction perpendicular to a directionof discharging the recording medium such that the stacking portion isdisposed therebetween. The communication portion is used forcommunicating with another communication portion using near fieldcommunication.

Embodiments discussed herein can provide an image forming apparatusincluding an image forming portion, a cover, a communication portion,and an image reading portion. The cover covers the image forming portionand includes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of thecover and configured to receive a recording medium thereon, therecording medium having an image formed by the image forming portion andbeing discharged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus. Thecommunication portion is arranged inside the cover in the main body ofthe image forming apparatus and includes an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication. The image reading portion isconfigured to read an image on an original. The antenna surface facesthe upper section of the cover and is arranged downstream of an end ofthe image reading portion in a direction of discharging the recordingmedium. The communication portion is used for communicating with anothercommunication portion using near field communication.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according toa first comparative example.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according toa second comparative example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image formingapparatus.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG.4B illustrates the image forming apparatus in FIG. 4A when an uppersection of a cover is assumed to be transparent.

FIG. 5A is a top view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 5Billustrates the image forming apparatus in FIG. 5A when the uppersection of the cover is assumed to be transparent.

FIG. 6A is a front perspective view of the image forming apparatus whenthe cover is removed, FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a communicationportion and its surroundings, and FIG. 6C is an enlarged view of aholding member and its surroundings when the communication portion isremoved.

FIG. 7A is a rear perspective view of the image forming apparatus whenthe cover is removed, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of thecommunication portion and its surroundings.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG.8B illustrates the image forming apparatus in FIG. 8A when the cover isassumed to be transparent.

FIG. 9A is a top view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 9Billustrates the image forming apparatus in FIG. 9A when the cover isassumed to be transparent.

FIG. 10A illustrates the upper section of the cover seen from the inside(below), and FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the communication portionand its surroundings in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 11Bis a perspective view of the image forming apparatus (in a state where amobile terminal is passed), and FIG. 11C is a perspective view of theimage forming apparatus (in a state where a recording medium isdischarged when the mobile terminal is passed).

FIG. 12A is a top view of the image forming apparatus when the uppersection of the cover is assumed to be transparent, and FIG. 12B is anenlarged view of an antenna surface and its surroundings.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention is described below. In thefollowing description, when there is a plurality of devices havingsubstantially the same configuration, such as photosensitive drums 10 a,10 b, 10 c, and 10 d, they are indicated as a representative, such as aphotosensitive drum 10, in describing the configuration and operationsfor the sake of simplification.

[Image Forming Portion]

First, an image forming portion in the image forming apparatus isdescribed. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imageforming apparatus S. The image forming apparatus S is anelectrophotographic tandem laser beam printer and can form a four-colorimage on a sheet recording medium, such as paper or OHP film.

The configuration of the image forming portion is described below. Theimage forming portion includes a drum-type electrophotographicphotosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”)10 (10 a to 10 d) for each color. The photosensitive drum 10 isrotatably supported in the image forming apparatus S and rotated by adriver (not illustrated) in the direction of the arrow. Process unitsarranged around the photosensitive drum 10 in its rotational directionare as follows: a charging roller 11 (11 a to 11 d) configured to chargethe photosensitive drum 10, an exposure unit 2 configured to emit alaser beam L (La to Ld) based on image information to the photosensitivedrum 10, a development roller 12 (12 a to 12 d) configured to attachtoner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, an intermediatetransfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 15 to which a toner imageis primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 10, and a cleaningblade 13 (13 a to 13 d) configured to eliminate toner on the surface ofthe photosensitive drum 10. The development rollers 12 a to 12 d areconfigured to attach different colors of toner (yellow, magenta, cyan,and black) to the photosensitive drums 10 a to 10 d, respectively.

The photosensitive drum 10 is the one in which a photoconductive layer,such as an organic photo conductor (OPC), is disposed on the outersurface of an aluminum cylinder. The charging roller 11 is made of ametal core with a conductive elastic member covering. The chargingroller 11 is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10,is rotatable by following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10,and configured to receive a charging bias applied by a power source (notillustrated). The exposure unit 2 accommodates, in its housing, laserlight sources for emitting the laser beams La to Ld (not illustrated)and optical members for use in guiding the laser beams emitted from thelaser light sources to the corresponding photosensitive drums 10 a to 10d, in deflecting the laser beams, and in scanning the photosensitivedrums 10 a to 10 d with the laser beams. The exposure unit 2 isconfigured to emit the laser beams La to Ld based on image informationto the charged surfaces of the photosensitive drums 10 a to 10 d andform electrostatic latent images thereon. The development roller 12 isconfigured to attach toner to the electrostatic latent image on thesurface of the photosensitive drum 10, develop the electrostatic latentimage, and form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum10.

The intermediate transfer belt 15 is an endless loop belt, is placedaround three mutually parallel stretching rollers, and is driven(travelled) by rotation of the stretching rollers such that its surfaceis moved in the direction of the arrow. A primary transfer roller 14 (14a to 14 d) is arranged inside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt15. The primary transfer roller 14 presses the intermediate transferbelt 15 against the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and forms aprimary transfer nip portion N1 (N1 a to N1 d) between thephotosensitive drum 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 15. Theprimary transfer roller 14 receives a primary transfer bias applied bythe power source (not illustrated). A secondary transfer roller 16 isarranged downstream of the primary transfer nip portion N1 (N1 a to N1d) in the direction of driving the intermediate transfer belt 15. Asecondary transfer nip portion N2 is formed between the secondarytransfer roller 16 and the intermediate transfer belt 15. The secondarytransfer roller 16 is configured to receive a secondary transfer biasapplied by the power source (not illustrated).

A paper feed unit 40 is configured to feed a recording medium P to thesecondary transfer nip portion N2 and can store a plurality of recordingmedia Ps.

A fixing device 50 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer nipportion N2 in the direction of transporting the recording medium P(direction of the dotted arrows). The fixing device 50 is configured toheat and press the recording medium P and fix toner on the recordingmedium P.

The configuration described above functions as an image forming portionconfigured to form an image on the recording medium P. The image formingportion is covered by a cover 4 as an outer component.

[Image Forming Operation]

An image forming operation performed by the above-described imageforming portion is described next. A toner image is formed on thesurface of the photosensitive drum 10 through the process describedbelow while the photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is chargedby being in contact with the charging roller 11 charged with thecharging bias, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 becomes apredetermined potential. After that, the surface of the photosensitivedrum 10 is radiated with the laser beam L based on image informationfrom the exposure unit 2, and an electrostatic latent image is formedthereon. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of thephotosensitive drum 10 is developed with toner attaching to the sectionradiated with the laser beam in a location that faces (is in contactwith) the development roller 12, and the developed image appears as atoner image. With such an operation on each of the photosensitive drums10 a to 10 d, different colors of toner images (yellow, magenta, cyan,and black) are formed on them, respectively.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to theintermediate transfer belt 15 at the primary transfer nip portion N1 bythe action of the primary transfer bias applied on the primary transferroller 14. The toner images on the photosensitive drums 10 a to 10 d aretransferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15 with timings at whichthe toner images are superimposed. In this manner, a four-color tonerimage made up of the superimposed yellow, magenta, cyan, and black tonerimages is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15. After the passagethrough the primary transfer nip portion N1, toner remaining on thephotosensitive drum 10 is scraped by the cleaning blade 13 in a cleanerunit.

The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is transported tothe secondary transfer nip portion N2 by rotation of the intermediatetransfer belt 15. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 15is transferred, at the secondary transfer nip portion N2 with adjustedtiming, to the recording medium P transported to the secondary transfernip portion N2 by the action of the secondary transfer bias applied tothe secondary transfer roller 16.

The recording medium P with the toner image transferred thereto istransported to the fixing device 50. At the fixing device 50, therecording medium P is heated and pressed, and the toner image is fixed(fused and fixed) on the recording medium P. In this manner, thefour-color image is formed on the recording medium P. After the passagethrough the secondary transfer nip portion N2, toner remaining on thesurface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is scraped by a beltcleaner (not illustrated).

Finally, the recording medium P having passed through the fixing device50 is discharged outside the main body of the image forming apparatus Sand stacked on a stacking portion 5 in the upper section of the cover 4,through which the recording medium P has passed. The operation describedabove is the image forming operation performed by the image formingportion.

An operation panel 6 as an operating portion including buttons for usein controlling and manipulating the image forming operation by the imageforming portion is disposed on the upper section of the cover 4. Theoperation panel 6 also includes a display as a display portion capableof displaying information relating to image formation.

A communication portion 31 for establishing near field communication isdisposed inside the cover 4.

[Communication Portion 31]

The communication portion 31 is described next. FIG. 4A is a perspectiveview of the image forming apparatus S. FIG. 4B is an illustration inwhich the upper section of the cover 4 is assumed to be transparent tomake the inside of the apparatus visible. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and4B, the communication portion 31 is disposed on the downstream side inthe image forming apparatus S in the direction of discharging therecording medium P (E direction), that is, on the front side in theimage forming apparatus S. The near field communication (NFC) is a setof short-range wireless communication standards where the communicationdistance is approximately 10 cm or less, typified by ISO/IEC 18092 andISO/IEC 21481. Other examples of the standards include Felica(registered trademark) and MIFARE (registered trademark).

A communication method using the communication portion 31 is describednext. FIGS. 11A to 11C are perspective views of the image formingapparatus S. As illustrated in FIG. 11A, an icon (mark) 29 indicatingthat the communication portion 31 is disposed inside is present directlyabove the communication portion 31 on the upper section of the cover 4.The communication portion 31 is disposed in the section surrounded bythe dotted lines in FIG. 11A.

A case is described below where a user instructs the image formingapparatus S to print data stored in a device, such as a mobile terminal,for example, a smartphone, that includes a communication portion fornear field communication. The user first selects an image to be printedby the image forming apparatus S on a mobile terminal 28 and sets themobile terminal 28 at a state where it can communicate. Next, asillustrated in FIG. 11B, the mobile terminal 28 is passed above the icon29 on the upper section of the cover 4 and its vicinity, thus allowingthe communication portion 31 in the image forming apparatus S and thecommunication portion incorporated in the mobile terminal 28 tocommunicate with each other. Then, the image data is transmitted fromthe communication portion in the mobile terminal 28 to the communicationportion 31 in the image forming apparatus S using near fieldcommunication. The communication portion 31 in the image formingapparatus S receives the image data and transmits it to an image dataprocessor (not illustrated) configured to process the image data. Inresponse to this, the above-described image forming operation isperformed in the image forming apparatus S, and the image transmittedfrom the mobile terminal 28 is printed on the recording medium P, andthe recording medium P is discharged and stacked on the stacking portion5, as illustrated in FIG. 11C. In this way, the image can be formedusing the near field communication.

In addition to reception of the image data, the communication portion 31may receive authentication data for use in starting the image formingoperation and may transmit data for notifying completion of reception ofthe image data or other data. The device communicating with thecommunication portion 31 using near field communication may not be amobile terminal, and it may be an IC card, for example.

[Arrangement of Communication Portion 31]

Arrangement of the communication portion 31 is described next withreference to FIGS. 4B, 5A, and 5B. FIG. 5A is a top view of the imageforming apparatus S. FIG. 5B is a top view of the image formingapparatus S when the upper section of the cover 4 is assumed to betransparent. The communication portion 31 is a substrate that includesan antenna surface 22 and is electrically connected to a controllerconfigured to control the image forming operation. The antenna surface22 receives information transmitted from a communication portion that isto communicate with the image forming apparatus S in the mobile terminal28 or the like. The antenna surface 22 in the communication portion 31is disposed substantially in parallel to the upper section of the cover4. The communication portion 31 is arranged on the downstream side inthe image forming apparatus S in the direction of discharging therecording medium P (E direction), as described above. Thus, a user caneasily pass the communication portion that is to communicate with theimage forming apparatus in the mobile terminal 28 or the like over thecommunication portion 31 in the image forming apparatus, in which thedirection of discharging the recording medium P is on the front side.

The communication portion 31 is arranged on the left side in the sheetdischarge area being the stacking portion 5 in the upper section of thecover 4 in the width direction (W direction), which is perpendicular tothe discharge direction, in the image forming apparatus S. Morespecifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, when the distance between thestacking portion 5 and an end of the antenna surface 22 adjacent to thecenter in the W direction in the image forming apparatus S is L1, theinner side of the stacking portion 5 in the W direction is “+”, and theouter side thereof is “−”, the end of the antenna surface 22 is arrangedin a location where L1>0 and where the antenna surface 22 partiallyoverlaps the stacking portion 5. However, part of the antenna surface 22is arranged outside the stacking portion 5 on the “−” side in the Wdirection. Thus, even if the recording medium P discharged from theimage forming apparatus S is stacked on the stacking portion 5, at leastpart of the antenna surface 22 is in a location that does not overlapthe recording medium P on the stacking portion 5. Accordingly,satisfactory communication can be established.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the exposure unit 2 is connected to cables 3for use in transmitting a relatively high frequency signal for enablingthe exposure unit 2 to emit light based on image data transmitted fromthe image data processor (not illustrated). If the cables 3 are near thecommunication portion 31, the relatively high frequency signal passingthrough the cables 3 may cause noise that would affect the communicationportion 31. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the communicationportion 31 is arranged such that the direction in which the cables 3extend (direction substantially extending along the W direction) isparallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of theantenna surface 22 (direction substantially extending along the Wdirection). Arranging the antenna surface 22 in this orientation canprovide a sufficient distance between the antenna surface 22 and thecables 3, can reduce effects of noise, and can easily maintainsatisfactory communication performance.

The operation panel 6 is arranged on a side opposite the antenna surface22 such that the stacking portion 5 is disposed therebetween. Thus, thelocation of the antenna surface 22 and that of the operation panel 6 donot interfere with each other, and satisfactory operability andviewability of the operation panel 6 can be achieved.

The arrangement of the communication portion 31 in the verticaldirection of the image forming apparatus S is described next. FIG. 13 isa cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4A. Thedistance L4 between the upper section of the cover 4 and the antennasurface 22 in the vertical direction is approximately 1 mm, at whichnear field communication can be established when a device that is tocommunicate with the image forming apparatus S has moved to a positionapproximately 20 mm away from a region above the outer surface of theupper section of the cover 4 over the antenna surface 22.

[Arrangement of Icon 29]

A positional relationship between the icon 29 and the antenna surface 22is described next. FIG. 12A is a top view of the image forming apparatusS when the upper section of the cover 4 is assumed to be transparent.FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the antenna surface 22 and itssurroundings. The icon 29 is a mark indicating where a user passes acommunication portion (mobile terminal 28 (see FIGS. 11B and 11C)) thatis to communicate with the image forming apparatus S to use the nearfield communication function. In FIG. 12B, the line D-D indicates thecenter line of the antenna surface 22 in the width direction, and theline E-E indicates the center line of the icon 29 in the widthdirection. In the present embodiment, the icon 29 and the antennasurface 22 for use in near field communication are arranged in positionswhere the distance L3 between the line D-D and the line E-E is 5 mm.When the communication portion that is to communicate with the imageforming apparatus S is positioned above the upper section of the cover4, even if that communication portion is outside the region facing theantenna surface 22, which has a size of approximately 50 mm byapproximately 25 mm, communication can be established as long as thatcommunication portion is in a range where the distance between the endof the antenna surface 22 and that communication portion isapproximately 20 mm or less. Arranging the icon 29 in a positiondeviating from the center of the antenna surface 22 in a direction awayfrom the stacking portion 5, as described above, have advantages overarranging the icon 29 such that the distance L3 is zero. Theseadvantages are described below. First, there is a reduced possibilitythat when the recording medium P is discharged while a user passes acommunication portion that is to communicate with that image formingapparatus S over the icon 29, the discharged recording medium P wouldcollide with the communication portion (e.g., mobile terminal 28) or theuser's hand. Second, even if the recording medium P is misaligned on thestacking portion 5, the possibility that the recording medium P wouldhide the icon is reduced. Third, there is a reduced possibility thatwhen many recording media Ps are stacked on the stacking portion 5, theicon 29 would be hard to see because it is hidden by one or more of therecording media Ps on the stacking portion 5, thus increasing visualrecognizability of the icon 29.

[Structure of Holding Communication Portion 31]

A structure of holding the communication portion 31 including theantenna surface 22 is described next. FIG. 6A is a front perspectiveview of the image forming apparatus S when the cover 4 is removed. FIG.6B is an enlarged view of the communication portion 31 and itssurroundings. FIG. 6C illustrates a state where the communicationportion 31 is removed. FIG. 7A is a rear perspective view of the imageforming apparatus S when the cover 4 is removed. FIG. 7B is an enlargedview of the communication portion 31 and its surroundings.

A frame 1 of the main body of the apparatus supporting the image formingportion is disposed on the cover 4 inside the main body of the imageforming apparatus S. The frame 1 is made of a metal side plate and stay.The communication portion 31 is arranged in a position a certaindistance or more away from the metal frame 1, which is a metal memberinside the image forming apparatus S, to achieve satisfactorycommunication performance of the antenna surface 22. Specifically, aholding member 23 is attached to the frame 1, and the holding member 23holds the communication portion 31. The holding member 23 includesholding shaped portions 20 for positioning the communication portion 31to prevent detaching of the communication portion 31. Holding thecommunication portion 31 on the holding member 23 supported by the frame1 in such a way can maintain a constant distance between the antennasurface 22 and the frame 1 in particular with respect to the directionof the normal to the antenna surface 22 and can achieve satisfactorycommunication performance.

As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the holding member 23 includes a cableguiding portion 23 a for regulating the position of cables 32. The cableguiding portion 23 a sets the cables 32 in a space below thecommunication portion 31 held by the holding shaped portions 20 andabove the frame 1. This enables the cables 32 to be arranged in thespace between the frame 1 and the communication portion 31 provided tohave a distance between the communication portion 31 and the frame 1. Asa result, the image forming apparatus S can be miniaturized. The cables32 are used in transmitting signals for controlling a motor, solenoid,and other components. The signals passing through the cables 32 havefrequencies lower than those of signals passing through the previouslydescribed cables 3. Thus, there is little effect of noise on the antennasurface 22.

Protrusions 24 (see FIG. 6C) are disposed in a plurality of locationsaround the communication portion 31 held by the holding shaped portions20 in the holding member 23. The holding member 23 includes a contactportion 25 capable of coming into contact with a housing 2 a of theexposure unit 2. The structure of the protrusions 24 and the contactportion 25 can prevent breakage of the communication portion 31.

The protrusions 24 protrude above the communication portion 31 (towardthe upper section of the cover 4) and are positioned in the vicinity ofa region facing the communication portion 31 in the upper section of thecover 4. Thus, even if the upper section of the cover 4 is deformed andbent downward by external forces, because the protrusions 24 come intocontact with the cover 4, the communication portion 31 can be preventedfrom being broken by the cover 4 coming into contact with the antennasurface 22 or other sections of the communication portion 31. If theupper section of the cover 4 is bent downward (toward the side oppositeto the upper section of the cover 4) by external forces, the holdingmember 23 receives forces from the cover 4 through the protrusions 24.At this time, a region remote from the frame 1 in the holding member 23is deformed because the region cannot let the forces escape to the frame1. To address this, if the holding member 23 is deformed, the contactportion 25, which is disposed in a position remote from the frame 1,comes into contact with the housing 2 a of the exposure unit 2. Thisenables the forces from the cover 4 exerted on the holding member 23 toescape to the exposure unit 2. Accordingly, the forces from the cover 4can be prevented from being received by the holding member 23 alone,deformation of the holding member 23 can be reduced, and breakage of theholding member 23 can be suppressed. The contact portion 25 can comeinto contact with a region 2 b indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7B.The region 2 b faces the edge of the side wall of the housing 2 a in theexposure unit 2. The contact portion 25 is arranged in a positionapproximately 1 mm to 2 mm away from the top of the housing 2 a of theexposure unit 2 when forces from the cover 4 are not exerted on theholding member 23.

[Comparative Examples]

Next, the embodiment is compared with comparative examples. FIG. 1 is aperspective view of an image forming apparatus S′ according to a firstcomparative example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image formingapparatus S″ according to a second comparative example. FIGS. 1 and 2each illustrate the image forming apparatus with an externalcommunication portion 21 for near field communication. When the externalcommunication portion 21 is attached, there are disadvantages describedbelow.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when a wall 70 is present on the right of theimage forming apparatus S′, the external communication portion 21 can bearranged in a position indicated by reference numeral 21 a, which is onthe left as seen from the front of the apparatus. However, because thecommunication portion 21 projects from the outer surface of the mainbody, the area occupied by the image forming apparatus S′ is increased.

One approach to addressing this issue is arranging the communicationportion 21 in a position indicated by reference numeral 21 b or 21 c onthe upper section of the cover 4, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to allow theimage forming apparatus S″ to be placed in a space in which the walls 70are present on both side. However, in the case of the apparatus having asmall area of the upper section of the cover 4, when the communicationportion 21 is arranged in a position that overlaps the stacking portion5 for receiving discharged recording media Ps, as illustrated in theposition 21 b, the communication portion 21 may interfere withdischarging the recording media Ps. If the communication portion 21 isarranged in the position 21 c to avoid interference with discharging therecording media Ps, because the communication portion 21 is arrangedbehind the operation panel 6, it is difficult for a user to pass acommunication portion that is to communicate with the image formingapparatus S″ over the communication portion 21, and viewability may beunsatisfactory.

When the external communication portion 21 is used, a cable 27 forconnecting to the main body of the image forming apparatus is needed.This may require a complicated process of binding the cable 27 or maydegrade the external appearance.

In contrast, when the communication portion 31 is arranged inside thecover 4, as in the above-described present embodiment, the communicationportion 31 does not protrude from the outer surface, does not interferewith discharging the recording medium P, or does not decreaseviewability of the operation panel 6. In addition, this arrangement doesnot lead to degradation in the external appearance, and handling thecables can be relatively simplified.

According to the present embodiment, as described above, thecommunication portion for establishing near field communication isarranged inside the cover 4 in the main body of the image formingapparatus S such that the antenna surface 22 faces the upper section ofthe cover 4, and the communication portion can communicate with anothercommunication portion passed above the upper section of the cover 4using near field communication. This enables the communication portionto be appropriately arranged in the image forming apparatus while at thesame time achieving satisfactory communication performance andusability. In addition, arrangement of the antenna surface 22 in aposition that is downstream in the direction of discharging therecording medium P (E direction) on the upper section of the cover 4 andthat at least partially faces the region outside the stacking portion 5in the width direction of the apparatus (W direction) achieves moresatisfactory viewability, operability, and communication performance.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is described next. The same reference numerals areused in the configuration substantially the same as that in the firstembodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Arrangement of Communication Portion 31]

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus S. FIG. 8Billustrates the image forming apparatus S in FIG. 8A when the cover 4 isassumed to be transparent. FIG. 9A is a top view of the image formingapparatus S. FIG. 9B illustrates the image forming apparatus S in FIG.9A when the cover 4 is assumed to be transparent. In the presentembodiment, an image reading portion 7 configured to read an image on anoriginal is supported above the upper section of the cover 4, theoperation panel 6 is supported on the left side as seen from the frontof the apparatus, and the communication portion 31 is disposed on theinner side of the upper section of the cover 4 on the right side as seenfrom the front of apparatus. The image read by the image reading portion7 can be formed on the recording medium P by the image forming portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, with respect to the width direction of theimage forming apparatus (W direction), the inner direction in the sheetdischarge area is defined as “+” direction, the outer direction in thesheet discharge area is defined as “−” direction, and the distancebetween the sheet discharge area, which is the stacking portion 5 in theupper section of the cover 4, and the inner end of the antenna surface22 in the width direction is defined as L2.

In this case, the antenna surface 22 is arranged in a position whereL2<0 and is fully arranged outside the stacking portion 5 in the Wdirection. Because the antenna surface 22 is arranged downstream of theend of the image reading portion 7 in the direction of discharging therecording medium P (E direction), even when the image reading portion 7is disposed, the antenna surface 22 is not easily hidden by the imagereading portion 7, and a user can readily pass a communication portionthat is to communicate with the image forming apparatus, such as themobile terminal 28, over the communication portion 31.

[Structure of Holding Communication Portion 31]

A structure of holding the communication portion 31 is described next.FIG. 10A illustrates the upper section of the cover 4 seen from theinside (below). FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the communicationportion 31 and its surroundings in FIG. 10A. In the present embodiment,the communication portion 31 is held by holding shaped portions 26disposed on the upper section of the cover 4. Holding the communicationportion 31 on the upper section of the cover 4 in such a way enables arelative positional relationship between the icon 29 (see FIG. 11A) onthe upper section of the cover 4 and the antenna surface 22 to be setmore precisely than that when it is set through the holding member 23 inthe first embodiment. The antenna surface 22 can be closer to the uppersection of the cover 4 than that when the communication portion 31 isheld by the holding member 23 supported by the frame 1 in the firstembodiment. Accordingly, when the communication portion 31 hassubstantially the same performance as that in the first embodiment, thedistance over which near field communication can be established withreference to the surface portion of the upper section in the cover 4 canbe further increased.

As described above, the present embodiment can provide substantially thesame advantageous effects as in the first embodiment. The communicationportion can be appropriately arranged in the image forming apparatuswhile at the same time satisfactory communication performance andusability are achieved. Holding the communication portion 31 on theupper section of the cover 4 enables the distance over which near fieldcommunication can be established with reference to the surface portionin the upper section of the cover 4 to be longer than that in the firstembodiment.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2012-261449 filed Nov. 29, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an imageforming portion; a cover that covers the image forming portion andincludes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the coverand configured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recordingmedium having an image formed by the image forming portion and beingdischarged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus; and acommunication portion arranged inside the cover in the main body of theimage forming apparatus and including an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication, wherein the antenna surfacefaces a region of the upper section of the cover, the region beingdownstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium, theantenna surface at least partially facing a region of the upper sectionof the cover, the region being outside the stacking portion in adirection perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recordingmedium, and the communication portion for communicating with anothercommunication portion using near field communication.
 2. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an operatingportion for use in manipulating operations of the image forming portion,wherein the antenna surface is opposite the operating portion in thedirection perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recordingmedium such that the stacking portion is disposed therebetween.
 3. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: adisplay portion configured to display information relating to the imageformation, wherein the antenna surface is opposite the display portionin the direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging therecording medium such that the stacking portion is disposedtherebetween.
 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a frame of the main body of the image formingapparatus; and a holding member that holds the communication portion,wherein the holding member is attached to the frame.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the frame is made ofmetal, the holding member includes a guiding portion that regulates aposition of a cable, and the cable regulated by the guiding portion isarranged in a space between the antenna surface and the frame.
 6. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the holding memberincludes a protrusion that protrudes above the communication portiontoward the upper section of the cover.
 7. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 6, further comprising: a photosensitive memberincluded in the image forming portion; and an exposure unit included inthe image forming portion and configured to expose the photosensitivemember, wherein the holding member includes a contact portion for cominginto contact with the exposure unit when the holding member is bent to aside opposite the upper section of the cover.
 8. The image formingapparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a photosensitivemember included in the image forming portion; an exposure unit includedin the image forming portion and configured to expose the photosensitivemember; and a cable for use in transmitting information based on imagedata to the exposure unit, wherein the communication portion is orientedsuch that a longitudinal direction of the antenna surface issubstantially parallel to a direction in which the cable extends.
 9. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: animage reading portion configured to read an image of an original,wherein the antenna surface is arranged downstream of an end of theimage reading portion in the direction of discharging the recordingmedium.
 10. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image formingportion; a cover that covers the image forming portion and includes astacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the cover andconfigured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recording mediumhaving an image formed by the image forming portion and being dischargedoutside a main body of the image forming apparatus; a communicationportion arranged inside the cover in the main body of the image formingapparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing anear field communication; and an operating portion for use inmanipulating operations of the image forming portion, wherein theantenna surface faces the upper section of the cover in a positionopposite the operating portion in a direction perpendicular to adirection of discharging the recording medium such that the stackingportion is disposed therebetween, and the communication portion forcommunicating with another communication portion using near fieldcommunication.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10,further comprising: a display portion configured to display informationrelating to the image formation, wherein the antenna surface is oppositethe display portion in the direction perpendicular to the direction ofdischarging the recording medium such that the stacking portion isdisposed therebetween.
 12. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 10, further comprising: a frame of the main body of the imageforming apparatus; and a holding member that holds the communicationportion, wherein the holding member is attached to the frame.
 13. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frame is madeof metal, the holding member includes a guiding portion that regulates aposition of a cable, and the cable regulated by the guiding portion isarranged in a space between the antenna surface and the frame.
 14. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the holdingmember includes a protrusion that protrudes above the communicationportion toward the upper section of the cover.
 15. The image formingapparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a photosensitivemember included in the image forming portion; and an exposure unitincluded in the image forming portion and configured to expose thephotosensitive member, wherein the holding member includes a contactportion for coming into contact with the exposure unit when the holdingmember is bent to a side opposite the upper section of the cover. 16.The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: aphotosensitive member included in the image forming portion; an exposureunit included in the image forming portion and configured to expose thephotosensitive member; and a cable for use in transmitting informationbased on image data to the exposure unit, wherein the communicationportion is orientated such that a longitudinal direction of the antennasurface is substantially parallel to a direction in which the cableextends.
 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, furthercomprising: an image reading portion configured to read an image on anoriginal, wherein the antenna surface is arranged downstream of an endof the image reading portion in the direction of discharging therecording medium.
 18. An image forming apparatus comprising: an imageforming portion; a cover that covers the image forming portion andincludes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the coverand configured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recordingmedium having an image formed by the image forming portion and beingdischarged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus; acommunication portion arranged inside the cover in the main body of theimage forming apparatus and including an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication; and a display portionconfigured to display information relating to the image formation,wherein the antenna surface faces the upper section of the cover in aposition opposite the display portion in a direction perpendicular to adirection of discharging the recording medium such that the stackingportion is disposed therebetween, and the communication portion forcommunicating with another communication portion using near fieldcommunication.
 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18,further comprising: a frame of the main body of the image formingapparatus; and a holding member that holds the communication portion,wherein the holding member is attached to the frame.
 20. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the frame is made ofmetal, the holding member includes a guiding portion that regulates aposition of a cable, and the cable regulated by the guiding portion isarranged in a space between the antenna surface and the frame.
 21. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the holdingmember includes a protrusion that protrudes above the communicationportion toward the upper section of the cover.
 22. The image formingapparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: a photosensitivemember included in the image forming portion; and an exposure unitincluded in the image forming portion and configured to expose thephotosensitive member, wherein the holding member includes a contactportion for coming into contact with the exposure unit when the holdingmember is bent to a side opposite the upper section of the cover. 23.The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: aphotosensitive member included in the image forming portion; an exposureunit included in the image forming portion and configured to expose thephotosensitive member; and a cable for use in transmitting informationbased on image data to the exposure unit, wherein the communicationportion is orientated such that a longitudinal direction of the antennasurface is substantially parallel to a direction in which the cableextends.
 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, furthercomprising: an image reading portion configured to read an image on anoriginal, wherein the antenna surface is arranged downstream of an endof the image reading portion in the direction of discharging therecording medium.
 25. An image forming apparatus comprising: an imageforming portion; a cover that covers the image forming portion andincludes a stacking portion disposed in an upper portion of the coverand configured to receive a recording medium thereon, the recordingmedium having an image formed by the image forming portion and beingdischarged outside a main body of the image forming apparatus; acommunication portion arranged inside the cover in the main body of theimage forming apparatus and including an antenna surface for use inestablishing a near field communication; and an image reading portionconfigured to read an image on an original, wherein the antenna surfacefaces the upper section of the cover and is arranged downstream of anend of the image reading portion in a direction of discharging therecording medium, and the communication portion for communicating withanother communication portion using near field communication.
 26. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising: aframe of the main body of the image forming apparatus; and a holdingmember that holds the communication portion, wherein the holding memberis attached to the frame.
 27. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 26, wherein the frame is made of metal, the holding memberincludes a guiding portion that regulates a position of a cable, and thecable regulated by the guiding portion is arranged in a space betweenthe antenna surface and the frame.
 28. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 26, wherein the holding member includes a protrusionthat protrudes above the communication portion toward the upper sectionof the cover.
 29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28,further comprising: a photosensitive member included in the imageforming portion; and an exposure unit included in the image formingportion and configured to expose the photosensitive member, wherein theholding member includes a contact portion for coming into contact withthe exposure unit when the holding member is bent to a side opposite theupper section of the cover.
 30. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 25, further comprising: a photosensitive member included in theimage forming portion; an exposure unit included in the image formingportion and configured to expose the photosensitive member; and a cablefor use in transmitting information based on image data to the exposureunit, wherein the communication portion is orientated such that alongitudinal direction of the antenna surface is substantially parallelto a direction in which the cable extends.
 31. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication portion iscapable of communicating with another communication portion above theupper section of the cover using near field communication.
 32. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communicationportion is capable of communicating with another communication portionabove the upper section of the cover using near field communication. 33.The image forming apparatus according to claim 18 wherein thecommunication portion is capable of communicating with anothercommunication portion above the upper section of the cover using nearfield communication.
 34. The image forming apparatus according to claim25, wherein the communication portion is capable of communicating withanother communication portion above the upper section of the cover usingnear field communication.